Edmonton (17-13-2) sits atop the Northwest with 36 points, but is only two ahead of Colorado (16-15-2), which is tied with Minnesota for last.

Owning one of the league's best home records has helped the Oilers into first. Only league-leading Anaheim, with 14, has more home wins than Edmonton, which is 12-4-1 at Rexall Place.

This will be the first game for the Oilers since they closed a busy stretch with a 4-1 loss Friday at Colorado.

"We played predictably lethargic," said Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish, whose team had played five games in five different cities in an eight-day span. "It's disappointing because I thought the game was there for us early."

Although they lost for the third time in four games, the Oilers did get some good news with the return of right wing Ales Hemsky, their fourth-leading scorer.

Hemsky, sidelined since Nov. 28 with a shoulder injury, had no points and one missed shot in just over 15 minutes of ice time.

"I wasn't too confident with the puck, (but) now I've tested it and I know what to expect in terms of the pain," Hemsky said. "It's sore, and it will be for another few months. I just have to get used to that."

Now that Hemsky is back in the lineup, the Oilers eagerly await the return of gritty left wing Ryan Smyth, the team leader with 16 goals.

Smyth, who has missed seven games with a broken thumb, is skating, but is not ready for game action.

"It's always good to have guys getting closer and closer to being healthy," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said. "I don't expect Ryan back for a while, but it was good that Hemmer got back and got in the game in Colorado."